Bathypterois grallator

Description

The tripodfish or tripod spiderfish, Bathypterois grallator, is a deep-sea benthic fish in the Ipnopidae family found at lower latitudes. It is now relatively well known from photographs and submersible observations, and seem to prefer to perch on the ooze using much elongated fin rays in the tail and two pelvic fins to stand, facing upstream with the pectoral fins turned forward so the outthrust projecting fin rays resemble multiple antennae, and are indeed used as tactile organs. B. grallator is hermaphroditic. At least 18 species are placed in the genus Bathypterois, several of which have similar appearance and behavior to B. grallator. B. grallator is the largest member of its genus, commonly exceeding a standard length of 30 cm (12 in) and reaching up to 43.4 cm (17.1 in).